| Date | News | Comment |
| Jun 9 2019 | The Astros transferred McCullers (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Sunday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle<\/a> reports. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jul 22 2018 | McCullers (10-5) was hit with the loss against the Angels on Sunday, giving up five earned runs on six hits over 4.1 innings, striking out three and walking five as the Astros eventually fell 14-5. | It was a second straight rough outing for McCullers, who gave up six earned and walked five in his last start against the Athletics before following up with another dud against the Angels in this contest. The stretch has pushed his ERA up to 4.01 through 116.2 innings. He'll look to get on track in another division matchup in his next start, which will see him take the mound against the Rangers next Sunday. |
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| Jul 11 2018 | McCullers (10-4) allowed six runs on four hits and five walks with one strikeout and lasted just four innings in a loss Wednesday to the Athletics. | McCullers started out shaky, as he allowed two walks to come around and score as part of a three-run first inning. He looked like he had calmed down through three innings, but Chad Pinder mashed a three-run home run in the fourth. Already at 87 pitches after four frames, McCullers night was done before the sixth for the first time since May 26 against Cleveland. He owned a sharp 2.60 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with 50 strikeouts through 45 innings in the interim 45 innings. After this rough outing, though, McCullers will take a 3.77 ERA into the All-Star break. |
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| Jul 6 2018 | McCullers (10-3) picked up the win in Friday's 11-4 rout of the White Sox, allowing one run on three hits over seven innings while striking out a career-high 12. | The right-hander generated a massive 24 swinging strikes among his 93 pitches and didn't give up a hit until the sixth inning in the dominant performance. McCullers hasn't lost a start since late May, and he'll carry a 3.41 ERA into his next outing Wednesday at home against the A's. |
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| Jun 28 2018 | McCullers (9-3) allowed three hits and two walks while striking out seven across seven scoreless innings to earn the win Thursday against the Rays. | McCullers was dominant Thursday and completed seven innings of work for the third time in his past eight outings. Seventeen of his 21 swinging strikes came on his curveball, his third consecutive start in which he has induced double-digit whiffs with the pitch. That offering has been the key to his success this season as in the five starts that he has generated more than 10 swinging strikes with his curveball, he has struck out 42 batters and allowed only nine earned runs across 29.1 innings. |
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| Jun 23 2018 | McCullers allowed three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out nine over six innings in a no-decision against the Royals. | While he didn't get the win in what looked like a layup, McCullers was still very good, inducing 16 swinging strikes on 103 pitches. Since his seven-run outing against Cleveland on May 26, McCullers has posted a 3.48 ERA and 31:11 K:BB over 31 innings. Next up is a road start against the Rays. |
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| Jun 17 2018 | McCullers threw six innings Sunday, striking out nine while yielding four runs (two earned) on two walks and six hits in a 7-4 win over Kansas City. | The nine-strikeout performance is McCullers' best since recorded 10 punch outs in a win over Seattle on April 17. His two earned runs Sunday came off a two-run blast from Hunter Dozier. After getting shelled for seven earned runs by Cleveland, he's recorded four consecutive quality starts, going 2-0 in the process. On the season, McCullers is 8-3 with a 3.77 ERA and 90 strikeouts across 88.1 innings. He'll look to face the Royals once again next weekend. |
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| Jun 13 2018 | McCullers (8-3) allowed two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out five over seven innings in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Athletics. | The Athletics touched McCullers for runs in each of the first two innings, although only one ball was a hard hit, before he settled in over his final five scoreless frames. It was his third straight quality start, all games that the Astros have won. He'll next take the ball Sunday against the Royals, who rank 28th in runs per game. |
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| Jun 10 2018 | McCullers is scheduled to start Tuesday against the Athletics. | McCullers will be seeking his third win over Oakland in 2018. He's allowed two runs, seven hits and four walks while striking out 10 in 12 innings over his previous two starts. |
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| May 31 2018 | McCullers (7-3) allowed two earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four across six innings to earn the win Thursday against the Red Sox. | McCullers didn't rack up strikeouts but contained one of the better offenses in the league, with the only runs he allowed coming on a two RBI double by Xander Bogaerts. This was a much needed bounceback effort for him after he was shelled for seven earned runs -- including three home runs -- in his last outing at Cleveland. He is now third in the American League with seven wins this season. |
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| May 26 2018 | McCullers (6-3) took the loss against Cleveland on Saturday as the Astros fell 8-6, allowing seven runs on six hits -- including three home runs -- and two walks over 4.1 innings while striking out two. | To say the right-hander didn't have his best stuff in this one would be an understatement. McCullers hadn't served up a home run since April 17, but Yonder Alonso's two-run shot in the fourth snapped a streak of 47 straight innings in which he'd kept the ball in the park. The seven earned runs also matched his total from the entire month of May coming into Saturday's game. McCullers will carry a 3.98 ERA into another tough test Thursday when he faces the Red Sox at home. |
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| May 20 2018 | McCullers (6-2) got the win on Sunday, throwing seven one-hit innings against the Indians while giving up no runs, striking out eight and walking two as the Astros eventually prevailed 3-1. | McCullers has been cruising of late, as this strong outing against Cleveland marked the seventh straight start where he's given up three earned runs or fewer since he was blown up for eight earned by the Twins back on April 11. This latest effort brought his ERA down to 3.20 and his WHIP to 1.14 and he boasts a solid 66:23 K:BB through 59 innings this season. He should also continue to be in line for his fair share of wins pitching for an Astros team that will offer plenty of run support. |
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| May 15 2018 | McCullers (6-2) allowed two runs on four hits and two walks with six strikeouts through six innings but took a tough loss Monday against the Angels. | After a slow start the season, McCullers now has five quality starts in his past six outings. McCullers had his changeup working wonders Monday night, as it induced nine swinging strikes on 27 offerings. For the fourth time in four seasons, McCullers is striking out more batters than innings pitched -- after nine outings this year, he's up to 58 strikeouts in 52 innings. He'll look to stay hot Sunday against Cleveland. |
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| May 9 2018 | McCullers (5-1) allowed two runs on five hits in a win over the A's on Tuesday, striking out three and walking four in five innings. | McCullers threw 89 pitches (52 for strikes) on the evening, the fewest pitches he's thrown this season. Over his last five starts, McCullers has allowed a combined seven runs on 21 hits across 32 innings, striking out 29 in that span. The right-hander's 52 strikeouts is good for ninth in the American League. His next start will be a matchup with the Angels in Los Angeles. |
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| May 3 2018 | McCullers allowed three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out five over seven innings in a no-decision against the Yankees on Thursday. | Considering the opponent -- New York leads baseball in run scoring -- this was a big win for McCullers' fantasy owners, even if he didn't get another mark in the win column. The 24-year-old induced 14 swinging strikes on 108 pitches and is now up to four consecutive quality starts. Aside from one eight-run blowup on April 11, McCullers has been masterful, posting a 2.17 ERA in his other six outings. He will look to keep it going next week in Oakland. |
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| Apr 28 2018 | McCullers (4-1) allowed two hits while walking none and striking out seven across seven scoreless innings to earn the win Saturday against the Athletics. | McCullers delivered his third consecutive strong start Saturday, effectively pitching efficiently while also racking up strikeouts. He has been excellent by nearly any measure through six starts this season-- even with a disastrous eight earned run outing factored in-- and his 21.6 K-BB% effectively captures how dominant he has been. If he can remain healthy, this season appears to have the components to be a breakout campaign for McCullers. |
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| Apr 22 2018 | McCullers (3-1) allowed one run on eight hits, a walk and two hit batsmen while striking out three over six innings in Sunday's 7-1 win over the White Sox. | McCullers had baserunners on in five of his six innings and clearly didn't have his best stuff. Still, he stuck to the script of throwing more two-seamers and changeups along with his curve and navigated any potential damage. As for the issues he's been having facing batters a third time, of the eight batters that got a look at him three times, McCullers allowed two singles and hit a batter. Not a bad effort overall considering his wobbly command. His next start is scheduled for Friday at home against the Athletics. |
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| Apr 18 2018 | McCullers (2-1) allowed one run on one hit and one walk while striking out 11 in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Mariners. | McCullers, who was coming off the worst start of his career, had apparently heard enough about the problems he was having when opposing batters got a third look at him. Prior to Tuesday, the 14 batters seeing him a third time slashed .769/.786/1.308. On Tuesday, he retired all five Mariners that got a third look at him. He incorporated more changeups and two-seamers along with his signature curveball and produced his best game of the season. The lone blemish was Robinson Cano's first-inning home run -- McCullers went on to retire 19 of the final 20 batters faced. This altered approach is something he's been working on since spring training, but like changing any habit, it's not always comfortable. McCullers should take Tuesday's results to fuel his next start Sunday in Chicago against the White Sox. |
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| Apr 11 2018 | McCullers allowed a career-high eight runs on seven hits and six walks while striking out six over 3.2 innings in Wednesday's 9-8 loss to the Twins. | McCullers dig a big hole for the Astros, who fell behind, 8-1, when the fourth inning went sideways on the right-hander who walked the first two men of the inning. Each runner came around to score and more followed. There's been a trend of opposing batters figuring out McCullers the third time through the lineup and that played out again Wednesday. Five of the six batters he faced a third time reached base safely, including Max Kepler who walked and had a two-run home run that chased McCullers. He was able to avoid picking up the loss thanks to Houston's resilient lineup, who tied the game late before the Twins won it walk-off fashion. The Astros will be happy to leave of cold Minnesota after losing two of three to the Twins while walking 14 men in the two losses. McCullers, whose ERA rose to 7.71, will try to regroup in time next Tuesday's start against the Mariners in Seattle. |
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| Apr 7 2018 | McCullers' start Friday began to unravel in the fifth inning when he was facing San Diego hitters for a third time through the lineup, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. | Not all of McCullers' problems occurred the third time through the order -- runners reached base in each of the first four innings -- but it only cost him when batters got a third look at the curveball master, as he gave up four hits and only retired one hitter who saw him for a third time. That comes on the heels of his previous start against the Rangers, when two of the three batters seeing him a third time reached base safely via a hit. Going back to 2017, 118 opponents seeing McCullers a third time slugged .567 with a 1.000 OPS. The takeaway is that McCullers will be susceptible in games where Houston's offense doesn't give him a lead. That could mean a higher ERA, a higher WHIP and lost opportunities to win. |
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| Apr 6 2018 | McCullers (1-1) got the loss against San Diego on Friday, giving up three runs (two earned) on seven hits, with seven strikeouts and three walks in Houston's 4-1 defeat. | McCullers didn't miss a start after he was hit in the ankle by a comebacker in his last outing and although he wasn't at his absolute sharpest, he still managed a decent stat line and was unlucky to get outdueled by Luis Perdomo. He now has a 3.48 ERA to along with 17 strikeouts against just four walks to start off his 2018 campaign. |
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| Apr 6 2018 | McCullers (leg) will make his second start of the season against the Padres on Friday, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports. | McCullers was drilled on the ankle by a comebacker during his outing Saturday against Texas, but he was able to stay in the game and won't miss any time due to the scare. In that start, the right-hander earned the win, striking out 10 while allowing two runs over 5.1 innings. McCullers shouldn't be restricted heading into Friday's game. |
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| Apr 1 2018 | McCullers was hit on the ankle by a comebacker Saturday, but stayed in the game, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. | McCullers went down with two outs in the fourth inning, but shook off the incident and went on the strike out the side in the fifth before tiring in the sixth. That he came back and pitched effectively is a good sign, but the real indicator of health comes Sunday when he shows up at the ballpark. The right-hander said he was lucky in that the ball hit the muscle part in between the shin and ankle. At this point, his next scheduled start, April 6 at home against the Padres, is not in jeopardy. |
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| Mar 31 2018 | McCullers completed 5.1 innings and earned a win Saturday against the Rangers, allowing two earned runs on four hits and one walk while striking out 10. | McCullers' strong season debut was highlighted by the control he showed as he found the strike zone on 61 of his 90 pitches and began 14 of the 21 batters he faced with a strike. Not every start will be as smooth for him as he was anchored to a lead early in the game, so it remains to be seen if he can continue to show that type of control in more high leverage situations as the season goes on. However, it was a great first start for McCullers, and most importantly he showed plenty of his excellent swing and miss stuff. |
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| Mar 18 2018 | McCullers will start the third game of the season, March 31, against Texas, Glenn Sattell of MLB.com reports. | McCullers had a strong camp, giving up just one run with a 15/4 K/BB ratio over 12.2 innings. As the third starter, he's in line for a career high in innings pitched. The right-hander's previous career high was 125.2 innings as a rookie in 2015. |
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| Mar 17 2018 | McCullers was pleased with his location and ability to mix pitches after he pitched 4.1 scoreless innings Friday against the Yankees, Mike Nabors of MLB.com reports. "I'm able to [locate] my pitches the way I intend to going into the game and it's not always like that in the spring," said the right-hander, who allowed one hit and walked one. | Four of McCullers' five strikeouts came via his patented curveball, but the 24-year-old has made expanding his repertoire a top priority this spring. "First couple of innings, I was mixing everything well and then I went to my breaking ball when I needed some punchies. If I'm able to take how I field all of my pitches into the season, I'll be able to mix and match how I feel using my touch," said McCullers, who has submitted a nice body of work this spring. He's allowed just one run while striking out 15 over 12.1 innings in four spring starts. He's on pace for the regular season and will slot into the fourth or fifth starter's job. |
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| Mar 12 2018 | McCullers focused on his fastball and changeup Sunday, when he allowed one run on four hits and one walk while striking out five over 3.2 innings against the Mets, Jerome Solomon of the Houston Chronicle reports. | McCullers was burned once with the fastball as Yoenis Cespedes took a 1-1 heater over the left field wall in the first inning, but other than that McCullers was good. "During the season I'm not going to throw a 1-1 challenge heater down the middle, but that's what spring's for," McCullers said. "I'm trying my new pitches out, trying my new grips out. I'm trying to see what has movement and where I'm locating pitches the best." Two of his five strikeouts were the result of his fastball. McCullers won't grow as a pitcher if he's leaning on his curveball, considered one of the best in the majors. |
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| Feb 28 2018 | McCullers did not throw a curveball during his spring debut Tuesday, Hunter Atkins of the Houston Chronicle reports. He allowed two hits and struck out three over two scoreless innings against the Twins. | The right-hander threw nothing but fastballs and changeups, the latter pitch something he wants to work on this spring. McCullers can throw a curveball in his sleep, but the changeup is a pitch he lost a feel for last season, so he's making an effort to find it before the regular season. Opponents teed off on his changeup, batting .409 and slugging .591 against it in 2017. |
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| Jan 13 2018 | McCullers plans on focussing on the development of his changeup in spring training, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. "In the first half my changeup was an awesome pitch for me," McCullers said. "When I went on the DL for my back I kind of lost the feel for it and I never really got to get back to that." | McCullers is well known for his fastball/curveball combo, and he can eat up big-league lineups for a few innings on the strength of just those two pitches. However, if he can regain the feel for his changeup that would allow him to give hitters a different look and could allow him to work more efficiently and go deeper into games. The opposition hit .409/.447/.591 on 240 changeups that McCullers threw in 2017, so he clearly has a long way to go with that offering. |
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| Jan 12 2018 | McCullers agreed to a one-year deal with Houston on Friday, to avoid arbitration. | This was the first year he was arbitration eligible following a triumphant postseason run that saw McCullers star in a pair of Game Sevens. During the 2017 campaign, the right-hander compiled a 4.25 ERA and 1.30 WHIP with 132 strikeouts in 118.2 innings. He should should be a borderline top-20 starter heading into this upcoming season. |
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| Oct 31 2017 | McCullers will start Game 7 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Wednesday, Erik Boland of Newsday Sports reports. | With the Dodgers pulling out a 3-1 victory in Game 6 on Tuesday, the series heads to a final matchup Wednesday, where McCullers will get the call to take the mound in a do-or-die situation. In his previous start during Game 3, McCullers pitched 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on four hits, while also tallying four walks and three strikeouts. |
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| Oct 25 2017 | McCullers will take the mound for Game 3 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. | When the series shifts to Houston, McCullers will be the man on the hill for the Astros against Yu Darvish, following his remarkable performances against the Yankees in the ALCS. During his two appearances in that series, McCullers allowed just one earned run while striking out nine over 10 innings of work, most of that coming in a Game 4 start at Yankee Stadium. With Charlie Morton pegged as Saturday's starter, Brad Peacock will likely be the long man in case either he, or McCullers, begins to falter in their respective outings. |
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| Oct 17 2017 | McCullers will start Game 4 of the ALCS on Tuesday in New York, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports. | He has only made one appearance this postseason -- a three-inning effort in mop-up duty against the Red Sox in the ALDS. Brad Peacock, who was the other option for this start, will be available out of the bullpen, likely piggybacking McCullers' start before the game gets turned over to Houston's top relievers. With that in mind, it is unlikely that McCullers will be asked to face the Yankees' lineup a third time in this outing. |
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| Sep 30 2017 | McCullers is expected to have a pitch count in the 80s when he starts Saturday in Boston, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | McCullers threw 63 pitches over 3.1 innings in his previous start, his first in 18 days. Given that he's on a pitch count and that the Astros have a wealth of starters pitching well at the moment, Saturday's start could be his final one of the year. A bullpen role in the postseason is a real option. |
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| Sep 30 2017 | McCullers gave up five runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six in 4.1 innings Saturday in Boston, picking up his fourth loss of the season. | He was on pitch count in this one, but likely would have been pulled midway through the fifth inning regardless, given how ineffective he was. Alyson Footer of MLB.com speculated afterward that McCullers may have cost himself a spot on the ALDS roster, but that has not yet been determined. Injuries once again limited McCullers this year, and he finished with a 4.25 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 132 strikeouts in 118.2 innings. |
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| Sep 27 2017 | McCullers will start Saturday against the Red Sox, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | McCullers lasted just 3.1 innings in his previous start last Sunday, his first outing since Sept. 6. He's still in play for a spot in the postseason rotation, but will need to prove he can throw at least six innings. If not, a postseason role as a long reliever awaits. |
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| Sep 24 2017 | McCullers (arm) has been confirmed as Sunday's starter against the Angels. | The team had already named McCullers the starter for the series finale -- his inclusion on the lineup card simply provided final confirmation. McCullers will be making his first start since Sept. 6, and he only threw 76 pitches in that outing; he will presumably be on a pitch count Sunday, but the Astros have not announced any sort of hard cap. |
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| Sep 24 2017 | McCullers (arm) lasted 3.1 innings Sunday against the Angels, allowing two earned runs on four hits while walking one and striking out four. He didn't factor into the decision in a 7-5 loss. | Making his first start since Sept. 6 due to an arm injury, it's likely that McCullers was on a pitch count (he tossed 39 of his 63 pitches for strikes), especially given the team's upcoming playoff run. Nonetheless, the 23-year-old is now three strikeouts shy of tying his career-high 129 set as a rookie back in 2015 -- which is a number he should be able to eclipse in his final start of the season Saturday in Boston. |
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| Sep 22 2017 | McCullers (arm) will start Sunday's game against the Angels, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | McCullers has been battling arm fatigue lately and hasn't appeared in a game since Sept. 6. It was recently announced that he was being considered to start Sunday's outing, and that will indeed be the case. McCullers started the season strong, but had a few rough outings in July before missing the month of August to a back injury. Overall he's been a serviceable option for the Astros and will look to return to his initial form as he heads into Sunday's outing with a 3.97 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. |
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| Sep 21 2017 | McCullers (arm) felt good following his bullpen session Wednesday, and remains a candidate to start Sunday's game against the Angels, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | Sunday's start seems to be between McCullers and Collin McHugh, although manager AJ Hinch has yet to decide at this point in time. If McHugh is tabbed as the starter, there's a chance McCullers will take the mound Monday against Texas, but the club hasn't released any concrete information on that front either. Over the course of the 2017 season, the right-hander has accumulated a 3.97 ERA and 1.27 WHIP over 20 starts. |
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| Sep 20 2017 | McCullers (arm) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | If all goes well Wednesday, McCullers will be a candidate to start Sunday's home game against the Angels. |
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| Sep 17 2017 | McCullers (arm) will pitch another bullpen session in the coming days and won't be available to pitch Tuesday against the White Sox, David Barron of the Houston Chronicle reports. | There had been some hope that McCullers would be available from the bullpen for Tuesday's series opener against the White Sox, but it doesn't appear that will be the case. Manager A.J. Hinch said that although McCullers is steadily making progress, he's not ready to pitch in a game at this point in time. More information regarding his availability should be available following his upcoming bullpen session. |
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| Sep 16 2017 | McCullers (arm) is being considered for a move to the bullpen, Hunter Atkins of the Houston Chronicle reports. | Manger A.J. Hinch was vague when discussing McCullers' immediate future beyond Saturday's bullpen session, but it sounds like the manager's unsure about how much volume the right-hander can handle. McCullers was scratched from a start earlier this week due to arm fatigue. Hinch said he "probably" will use McCullers in the series opener against the White Sox on Tuesday, but he had not decided who will start the game. |
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| Sep 14 2017 | McCullers (arm) will throw a bullpen session this weekend, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. | McCullers was scratched from his scheduled start Wednesday due to arm fatigue, but he is apparently feeling good enough to try and throw again over the weekend. The Astros won't be in any hurry to rush McCullers back into the rotation, but if he feels better after throwing over the weekend, he could start for the club again at some point next week. |
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| Sep 13 2017 | McCullers was scratched from his scheduled start Wednesday due to arm fatigue, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. | Mike Fiers is slated to start the second game of the series in place of McCullers, who reported fatigue after playing catch Tuesday. Manager A.J. Hinch said he's not overly concerned about the issue, but the team will be conservative with the righty with the start of the postseason mere weeks away. McCullers just returned from a back injury last week after spending more than a month on the DL. |
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| Sep 7 2017 | McCullers allowed three runs on four hits and one walk while striking out four over 5.1 innings in Wednesday's 5-3 win over Mariners. | Despite what appears to be a short outing, McCullers worked efficiently, throwing only 76 pitches. He didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning before tiring in the sixth when he allowed three of his four hits. It was a good first step for the right-hander, who had been awful in July before landing on the 10-day disabled list July 30 with back discomfort. He'll get at least four more starts during the regular season, giving him ample opportunity to regain his early-season form in advance of the postseason, should the Astros qualify. McCullers' next start is scheduled next Wednesday in Anaheim. |
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| Sep 6 2017 | McCullers (back) was activated from the 10-day disabled list and confirmed as the starting pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Mariners. | As expected, McCullers will rejoin the Astros' rotation ahead of his first big-league start since landing on the shelf at the end of July. The 23-year-old was able to toss 60 pitches in a five-inning rehab outing last week, followed by a 15-pitch simulated inning in the bullpen, so he shouldn't be facing much of a pitch limit in his first start back. McCullers struggled in July before hitting the DL, but he still owns a respectable 3.92 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 105.2 innings this season. |
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| Sep 2 2017 | McCullers (back) will come off the DL to start Wednesday's game against the Mariners, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | This new and improved Astros rotation will take shape next week, with Dallas Keuchel starting Monday and Justin Verlander starting Tuesday. McCullers threw a five-inning rehab start Wednesday in which he totaled 60 pitches, but that was followed by a 15-pitch simulated inning in the bullpen, so it seems like he should be able to approach 100 pitches in his return from the DL. He has a 3.92 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 118 strikeouts in 105.2 innings this season. |
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| Sep 1 2017 | McCullers (back) will be re-evaluated Saturday at Minute Maid Park for a possible return to the rotation next week, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | The Astros haven't set their rotation for next week yet, but if all checks out, McCullers will throw Tuesday or Wednesday against the Mariners at Safeco Field. He threw a five-inning rehab start Wednesday, which manager A.J. Hinch described as "a normal game" for the right-hander. "His stuff was pretty good," Hinch said Thursday. "He was in the low-to-mid 90s. That's a good sign. His breaking ball was a little bit better. He threw a quite a few changeups." McCullers threw only 60 pitches in Wednesday's start, but followed it up with a 15-pitch simulated inning in the bullpen. Any fears that his pitch count will be limiting should be mitigated by that extra bullpen session. |
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| Aug 31 2017 | McCullers (back) allowed two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out two over five innings during a rehabilitation start for Double-A Corpus Christi on Wednesday. | McCullers worked his pitch count up to 60 in what was his second rehab start, which was much better than his initial rehab outing when he walked five and lasted just three innings last Friday for Triple-A Fresno. Astros manager A.J. Hinch is hoping Wednesday's start will be McCullers' final one while out on rehab, but with only 60 pitches, we have to question whether he's ready to jump back into the Houston rotation and give them any length. |
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| Aug 30 2017 | The Astros hope McCullers' (back) rehab start Wednesday will be his last before he is activated, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | If it is indeed his final rehab start, he would presumably return to the rotation Monday or Tuesday in Seattle. He gave up three runs on three hits and five walks in three innings in his last rehab start, throwing 33 of his 59 pitches for strikes. Upping his pitch count and walking fewer batters in his second rehab start will be two key factors to check on to see if McCullers is trending toward joining the rotation early next week. |
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| Aug 29 2017 | McCullers (back) is scheduled to make a rehab start with Double-A Corpus Christi on Wednesday, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports. | McCullers is set to make his second rehab start as he continues to work his way back from a back ailment that has sidelined him for all of August. The 23-year-old walked five batters in three innings during his first rehab start, and he issued nine free passes over 14.1 innings before landing on the disabled list, so he'll need to show better control before the Astros consider bringing him back. If he's able to show improvement in his second start, he shouldn't be too from activation. |
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| Aug 26 2017 | McCullers (back) is expected to make a rehab start with Double-A Corpus Christi on either Wednesday or Thursday, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | The Astros will move McCullers down a rung for his next outing after he issued five free passes over three innings for Triple-A Fresno on Friday. His control had been shaky in the weeks leading up his placement on the DL (nine walks over 14.1 innings), but so long as he shows improvement this week, McCullers should be back contributing for the big club in short order. |
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| Aug 25 2017 | McCullers (back) allowed three runs on five walks and three hits over three innings in a rehab start Friday at Triple-A Fresno, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | More important will be how McCullers feels tomorrow after throwing 59 pitches, but he certainly did not look ready to return to the majors. That said, the Astros were planning on giving him a couple of rehab starts before bringing him back, so this shouldn't impact his timetable. Expect an early September return. |
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| Aug 23 2017 | McCullers (back) will head out on a rehab appearance with Triple-A Fresno on Friday, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | McCullers was able to complete a 45-pitch simulated game Sunday, and has been deemed ready to face live hitting for the first time since going down with a back injury near the end of July. It hasn't been determined how many rehab appearances McCullers will need, but it's likely that the right-hander spends two games ramping up his endurance with Fresno before returning to the big-league team. |
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| Aug 20 2017 | McCullers (back) completed a three-inning, 45-pitch simulated game Sunday morning, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | This is a major step in his recovery from a back injury that has kept him sidelined all month, and if everything is still feeling in order Monday, his next step could be to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment. The Astros haven't determined how long many rehab starts he'll need to make before rejoining the big-league rotation, but it will be multiple outings. |
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| Aug 19 2017 | McCullers (back) is scheduled to face hitters in a live batting-practice session Sunday, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | McCullers, who has been sidelined since July 31, is expected to require multiple rehabilitation starts once he's out on assignment. |
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| Aug 18 2017 | McCullers (back) and manager A.J. Hinch both were reluctant to talk following the pitcher's bullpen session Thursday, Hunter Atkins of the Houston Chronicle reports. | Hinch would only say that he "heard it went fine" while McCullers told reporters he would talk to the media in a couple of days after sitting down with the manager to determine the next step in his rehabilitation. The right-hander was placed on the disabled list for a second time this season in late July after a four-start stretch in which he posted a 9.64 ERA and 2.30 WHIP. Thursday's session was the second one for McCullers, who is expected to require multiple starts while on a rehab assignment. That schedule pushes his return to Houston out until September. |
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| Aug 17 2017 | McCullers (back) threw another bullpen session Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. | McCullers continues to trend in the right direction, as he's now completed his second bullpen session since landing on the disabled list at the end of July. He should progress to facing live hitters soon, and if all goes well, he'll likely head out on a minor-league rehab assignment shortly thereafter. Barring any setbacks, it's looking like he could rejoin the big-league rotation near the beginning of September, though a clearer timetable should become available once his rehab assignment is set. |
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| Aug 16 2017 | McCullers (back) threw another bullpen session Wednesday, and afterwards manager A.J. Hinch said "there's a rehab assignment in sight," Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | Wednesday marked his second bullpen in as many days, and the Astros will likely wait and see how McCullers responds to Wednesday's activity before deciding on his next step. He'll still need to progress to facing live hitters before he embarks on a rehab assignment, but he's inching closer to a return to the big-league rotation. A clearer timetable for his return should start to come into focus as he continues to progress in his throwing program. |
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| Aug 15 2017 | Manager A.J. Hinch said McCullers (back) threw a bullpen session at Minute Maid Park on Monday, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | McCullers has been playing catch for about a week, but Monday marked the first time he was able to throw off a mound since landing on the disabled list at the end of July. While he's inching closer to a return, he'll still need to progress to facing hitters before eventually being cleared for a minor-league rehab assignment. In the meantime, Brad Peacock will continue to take McCullers' turn in the rotation while he's sidelined. |
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| Aug 12 2017 | McCullers (back) has been playing catch this week but has yet to progress to pitching off a mound, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | It was encouraging news that McCullers began throwing earlier this week, but we'll know he's getting close when the right-hander takes to the mound in a bullpen session. The presumption is that McCullers will need a minor league rehabilitation assignment. |
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| Aug 8 2017 | McCullers (back) played catch in Houston on Monday, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | This is an encouraging development, as it was the first time McCullers threw since landing on the disabled list at the end of July. Still, the 23-year-old remains without a timetable for his return, and the Astros will likely continue to proceed cautiously with him given his injury history. Brad Peacock will continue to fill in for him in the rotation while he's sidelined. |
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| Aug 6 2017 | Manager A.J. Hinch said Sunday that he had no update on the health of McCullers (back), suggesting the right-hander isn't in line to come off the disabled list when eligible during the upcoming week, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. | The Astros inserted Brad Peacock back into the rotation last week after McCullers landed on the disabled list with back discomfort, a condition that had limited his effectiveness over the last several starts. While McCullers' injury isn't considered overly significant, the 23-year-old's checkered medical history will likely prompt the Astros to proceed cautiously with him. There's no definitive timeline for his return from the DL. |
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| Jul 31 2017 | McCullers was placed on the 10-day disabled list Monday due to back discomfort, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. | It's unclear when the issue cropped up, but it may go to explain why he's been so bad in the month of July. Since the calendar turned, the young starter hasn't pitched deeper than five innings in any game and holds a 9.64 ERA. A timetable for his return has not been established as of now, but things should become clear once he ramps up his activity again. Brad Peacock seems like a logical candidate to pick up starts in his stead. |
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| Jul 30 2017 | McCullers (7-3) allowed five runs on eight hits, four walks and two hit batsmen over five-plus innings in Sunday's 13-1 loss to the Tigers. | McCullers continued a frustrating stretch in which he's posted a 7.45 ERA in six starts since coming off the disabled list in late June. He faced 28 batters Sunday, 13 more than the minimum for a five-inning start. He was able to navigate a few jams and kept the game close, but manager A.J. Hinch had seen enough after the right-hander put the first two men of the sixth inning on base. McCullers is next due to start Friday at home against the Blue Jays. |
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| Jul 23 2017 | McCullers allowed six runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out just three batters over 4.2 innings during Sunday's loss to Baltimore. He didn't factor into the decision. | McCullers has now allowed 20 runs -- 18 earned -- through 18.2 innings in his past four starts, so it's not out of the question to begin worrying about the youngster. His 2.85 FIP and 10.2 K/9 remain high-end marks, but the 23-year-old righty has never pitched more than 125.2 innings in the majors, and Houston has little incentive to push him down the stretch with a playoff spot essentially wrapped up already. An innings limit looms, and there's also a chance that he's not 100 percent healthy. A potentially difficult road matchup against the Tigers at Comerica Park is up next for McCullers. |
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| Jul 18 2017 | McCullers allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits while walking three and striking out five over 4.2 innings in Monday's no-decision against the Mariners. | McCullers failed to get through the fifth inning for the second consecutive outing, needing 95 pitches to record just 14 outs. While Houston's high-powered offense promptly erased a 5-2 deficit with four runs in the sixth inning, the Mariners ultimately prevailed by hitting four home runs against the bullpen. The 23-year-old righty will hope to have better control of his electric stuff Sunday in Baltimore. |
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| Jul 6 2017 | McCullers (7-2) allowed six runs -- five earned -- on nine hits and two walks while striking out just three batters through 4.1 innings during Thursday's loss to Toronto. | McCullers was in cruise control through four frames allowing just a single run, but the Blue Jays scored five times in the fifth, and McCullers was pulled. It was just the second time all season he's allowed more than three runs, and he sports a high-end 3.05 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 10.5 K/9 for the campaign. The 23-year-old righty will look to rebound against the Twins at Minute Maid Park in his next start following the All-Star break. |
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| Jun 30 2017 | McCullers allowed three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six over 5.1 innings but didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 13-4 loss to the Yankees. | He ran up his pitch count, throwing just 57 of 97 pitches for strikes, but McCullers was actually in line for a win before he exited the game with runners on first and second and one out in the sixth and had to watch both Yankees come around to score as the Astros bullpen imploded. The right-hander will make his next start Thursday on the road against the Blue Jays. |
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| Jun 24 2017 | McCullers (back) was officially activated from the disabled list to start Saturday's game against the Mariners, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. | McCullers was confirmed as Saturday's starter earlier in the week, but now the corresponding moves have been clarified. Upon his return, the club optioned Joe Musgrove to the minors and also placed Brad Peacock on the paternity list. The 23-year-old was sharp on the mound prior to being placed on the disabled list and will look to continue that in his first start back Saturday. |
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| Jun 24 2017 | McCullers (7-1) pitched five innings of one-run ball, allowing one run on four hits and no walks Saturday against the Mariners. He added eight strikeouts and earned the win. | McCullers had been activated earlier in the day after a disabled-list stint to deal with lower-back issues. He pitched into the sixth inning, when Seattle finally broke through against him, and finished after throwing 76 pitches (51 for strikes). The right-hander picked up right where he left off before he hit the DL, and now owns an ERA of 2.53. |
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| Jun 20 2017 | McCullers (back) will return from the disabled list Saturday to take the mound against the Mariners, Julia Morales of Root Sports Southwest reports. | McCullers landed on the disabled list June 12 with lower back discomfort but has ramped up his rehab by notching a couple of successful bullpen sessions over the past several days. The 23-year-old last faced the Mariners on April 4, allowing one earned run on five hits, two walks and seven strikeouts over six strong innings. |
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| Jun 19 2017 | McCullers (back) threw a bullpen session Monday in Oakland and felt normal, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | McCullers is aiming for a start against Seattle, against whom the Astros begin a three-game series on Friday. He also had a throwing session Saturday with no issues, so McCullers appears to be on pace to return as planned. |
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| Jun 19 2017 | McCullers (back) joined his teammates on the road and will throw a bullpen session Monday or Tuesday, Mark Eisenhauer of the Houston Chronicle reports. | Manager A.J. Hinch suggested a possible start against Seattle later this week "if all goes well." McCullers was placed on the 10-day disabled list when he experienced lower-back discomfort while throwing in between starts June 12. |
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| Jun 17 2017 | McCullers (back) threw Saturday for the first time since landing on the disabled list, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | Everything apparently went well, and McCullers is scheduled to throw a bullpen session in the coming days before the Astros determine when he'll return to the rotation. If all goes well, the Astros are hoping the 23-year-old will be able to rejoin the big club at some point during their upcoming seven-game road trip. |
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| Jun 14 2017 | McCullers (lower back) could resume throwing as early as this weekend, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | If the Astros are talking about McCullers picking up a ball Saturday for the first time since being placed on the disabled list, that's cutting it pretty close. He's eligible to come off the disabled list next Monday, but given he'll throw for the first time Saturday, fantasy owners should plan on him not being back on time. |
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| Jun 12 2017 | McCullers was placed on the 10-day disabled list Monday due to lower-back discomfort, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | McCullers cruised through a strong outing against the Royals his last time out Thursday, giving up only one run on two hits while striking out eight, but it sounds as though the back issue surfaced when he tossed his bullpen session in advance of his next scheduled start Tuesday against the Rangers. According to Kaplan, the Astros aren't bracing for a long absence from the up-and-coming ace, who may only miss one turn, but it's nonetheless another blow to a rotation that already had four other starters hit the DL this season. The Astros have yet to announce a replacement in the rotation for McCullers, but prospect Francis Martes, who tossed 3.2 innings in relief Friday against the Angels, could be called upon to make a spot start on three days' rest. |
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| Jun 8 2017 | McCullers allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out eight over seven innings in Thursday's 6-1 win over the Royals. | McCullers had all of his pitches working and had a no-hitter through 6.1 innings before a Lorenzo Cain triple which eventually led to his only run allowed. An effort like this, in front of one of the baseball's more powerful offenses, would normally make him a winner, but the Astros were shut down by Kansas City's Jason Hammel. McCullers lowered his ERA to 2.58 (sixth in MLB) as he enters his next start Tuesday at home against Texas. |
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| Jun 3 2017 | McCullers pitched 4.1 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in Saturday's win over the Rangers. | McCullers had his personal four-game winning streak snapped with one of his poorest performances of the season. Saturday was the first time since April 15th that he failed to pitch at least five innings, and the first time since April 26th that he allowed more than two earned runs in a start. Despite the short outing, he still managed to collect eight strikeouts, bringing his season total to 81, which ranks fourth in the American League. He also ranks fourth in the AL in wins (six) and ERA (2.71). He'll look to bounce back when he faces the Royals on Thursday. |
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| May 28 2017 | McCullers (6-1) allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out eight over six innings in Sunday's 8-4 win over the Orioles. | McCullers settled down nicely after allowing all three of his runs in his first two innings. The impressive right-hander snapped his streak of 22 scoreless innings by giving up a two-run dinger to Jonathan Schoop in the first inning, but McCullers was able to win his fourth straight in the end. The 23-year-old allowed five runs twice in April but hasn't allowed more than two runs in any of his six May starts and posted four straight scoreless outings before this one. There aren't many hurlers throwing better than McCullers this season, and with his 10.1 K/9, he's one of the higher-ceiling starters around. |
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| May 24 2017 | McCullers allowed one hit, a hit batsman and two walks while striking out five over five scoreless innings in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Tigers. | The Tigers extended their at-bats, forcing McCullers to throw 96 pitches, but he got through the minimum five innings to earn his third straight victory. The right-hander hasn't allowed a run in 22 innings and hasn't allowed an earned run in 26.1 innings. He'll look to extend his scoreless streak Sunday at home against the Orioles. |
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| May 17 2017 | McCullers (4-1) pitched six scoreless innings with just three hits and two walks allowed while striking out three batters during Wednesday's win over Miami. | The outing has McCullers' ERA down to 2.65, and he's now pitched three consecutive games -- 19 innings -- without allowing a single earned run. His 1.09 WHIP and 9.9 K/9 are also solid marks. With a potent offense providing run support, McCullers boasts rare cross-category potential, and he's quickly climbing the ranks with so many of his peers struggling and injured. His next start projects to be against the Tigers at Minute Maid Park. |
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| May 12 2017 | McCullers (3-1) allowed no runs on four hits while striking out seven across six innings to earn the win Friday against the Yankees. | McCullers had no problem silencing the Yankees bats in a road contest while the offense gave him plenty of support, leading to his third win of the season. He's allowed just seven earned runs over his last five starts to lower his ERA from 4.67 to 2.98, and as long as he remains healthy, he'll continue to be a strong fantasy option. He'll make his next start Wednesday against the Marlins. |
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| May 7 2017 | McCullers allowed one unearned run on two hits and two walks while striking out four over seven innings in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Angels in Anaheim. | McCullers bucked a career trend of pitching poorly on the road, using a different mix to stymie the Angels. He threw more fastballs and changeups relative to his power curve with the changeup being a difference-maker. The result was more pitch-to-contact and fewer strikeouts than normal. He was able to throw the changeup below the zone and induced a season-high 11 groundouts to just two fly-ball outs. McCullers lowered his career road ERA from 5.32 to 4.95, a mark that's easier to look at but still stands in stark contrast to his 2.11 ERA at Minute Maid Park in Houston. McCullers' next start will be another road outing, either Thursday or Friday, in New York to face the hot-hitting Yankees. |
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| May 1 2017 | McCullers allowed two runs on six hits (one home run) while walking two and striking out 10 over 6.1 innings for a no-decision in Monday's 6-2 win over the Rangers. | McCullers tied a season high with his 10 punchouts, and the promising right-hander now has 46 K's in 35.1 innings for a 11.72 K/9. The 105-pitch effort dropped his season ERA to 4.08. With good health, the 23-year-old is primed for a breakout season, and his high .353 BABIP says positive regression is coming soon. Two five-run outings have inflated his ERA thus far. |
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| Apr 26 2017 | McCullers (2-1) gave up five runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out five over five innings in Wednesday's 7-6 loss to Cleveland. | The right-hander struggled to command the strike zone in this one, throwing 55 of 90 pitches for strikes, and it was the first time this season McCullers didn't strike out at least twice as many batters as he walked. His next start will come Monday at home against the Rangers. |
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| Apr 20 2017 | McCullers (2-0) allowed three hits and three walks while striking out eight over 6.2 innings in Thursday's 2-1 win over the Angels. | McCullers generated 13 swings-and-misses and had his secondary stuff working Thursday. He held the Angels hitless until the fifth and ceded just three singles before leaving. The 23-year-old right-hander has punched out 31 batters while walking just six over 24 innings. |
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| Apr 15 2017 | McCullers (1-0) allowed five runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out six over 4.1 innings Saturday against the Athletics. | McCullers put the Astros into a 5-0 hole, but the offense came up big after his departure to take him off the hook for a potential loss. Despite his rough outing, this was the first time in three starts that he failed to record a quality start, and as long as he's healthy he'll continue to be a strong fantasy option. He'll make his next start Wednesday against the Angels. |
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| Apr 9 2017 | McCullers allowed three runs on six hits and didn't walk a batter while striking out 10 over seven innings in Sunday's 5-4 extra-inning victory over Kansas City. | McCullers commanded his pitches well and put forth a second straight strong outing, though he might dwell on the execution of pitches that Salvador Perez and Mike Moustakas hit over the fence. He's struck out 17 and walked just two over 13 innings and is cruising toward his next scheduled start Saturday in Oakland. |
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| Apr 5 2017 | McCullers allowed one run on five hits and two walks while striking out seven over six innings in Tuesday's 2-1 win over Seattle. | McCullers kept Seattle hitters off balance with his curveball, striking out five of the first 10 batters he faced and induced 12 groundball outs to none in the air. Three of the five hits allowed were infield singles. A very impressive outing for the 23-year-old who had mixed results during spring training. |
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| Mar 31 2017 | McCullers allowed five runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six over four innings in Thursday's exhibition game against the Cubs, Hunter Atkins of the Houston Chronicle reports. | McCullers needed 72 pitches to get 12 outs as he sandwiched two strong innings around a couple of grinders in the second and third. He told manager A.J. Hinch he could have thrown deeper, but that wasn't the objective. Having the right-hander come out of the start healthy -- McCullers made just 14 starts last season and was delayed this spring due to an elbow injury -- and ready to start the second game of the season, April 4, against the Mariners is all the manager needed to see. |
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| Mar 28 2017 | McCullers will start the Astros' second game of the season against the Mariners, the Houston Chronicle's Jake Kaplan reports. | McCullers, who has the most electric stuff in the rotation, will slot in behind Dallas Keuchel and in front of Charlie Morton to start the season. His career high in innings pitched is 157.2 in 2015, so he has yet to prove he can handle a full season's workload, but his career 27 percent strikeout rate and 3.22 ERA has many dreaming on SP2 production, at least on a per-start basis. |
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| Mar 25 2017 | McCullers (foot) allowed four runs on six hits over 3.1 innings Saturday, Brian McTaggart of the Astros' official site reports. He didn't walk anyone but hit two batters and threw a wild pitch. | McCullers didn't fool too many batters Saturday and needed 83 pitches to get his 10 outs, so he wasn't very efficient. On the bright side, he's on schedule to take the ball when the regular season opens. His five-day routine lines him up to pitch the third game of the season. |
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| Mar 25 2017 | McCullers (foot) will start either the second or third game of the regular season, Brian McTaggart of the Astros' official site reports. | McCullers, who was forced to leave his last spring start due to a foot injury, will make his fourth spring start Saturday against the Nationals. The injury was not considered serious at the time, a notion supported by manager A.J. Hinch penciling him for a start during the first rotation of the regular season. The only thing to be determined is the rotation's order. As expected, Hinch named Dallas Keuchel the Opening Day starter followed by McCullers and Charlie Morton in a yet-to-be determined order. |
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| Mar 19 2017 | McCullers (foot) said that he was forced to leave Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees because a hole ripped open in his cleat, causing his foot to hit against the dirt on each pitch, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | McCullers also added that he's "fine", so it doesn't appear that he's overly concerned about the injury. He may required some time to let the foot heal, but his long-term health shouldn't be affected. He'll remain listed as day-to-day. |
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| Mar 19 2017 | McCullers exited Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees after 3.2 innings with an apparent foot injury, Brian McTaggert of MLB.com reports. | Astros manager A.J. Hinch said in an interview that McCullers was bleeding through his shoe. The severity of his foot injury is currently unclear, but more information should hopefully be available following Sunday's game. |
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| Mar 14 2017 | Mccullers allowed two runs on four hits while striking out six over three innings in his second spring start Tuesday, Hunter Atkins of the Houston Chronicle reports. | There was a lot of good in McCullers' outing, evidenced by the six strikeouts, and a little bit of bad. His fastball touched the upper 90s and the curve was in mid-season form. He got himself into a first-and-third jam with one out in the first inning, before he struck out the final two batters on breaking pitches. The one mistake was a hanging changeup to Yoenis Cespedes after the right-handed McCullers had nibbled his way to a 3-and-1 count. He's next scheduled to pitch Sunday. |
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| Mar 10 2017 | McCullers is scheduled to make his next Grapefruit League start Tuesday, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | The right-hander dazzled in his Thursday spring outing, during which he fanned three hitters over two perfect innings and touched 96 mph on the stadium scoreboard radar gun. Houston plans to have McCullers work three frames this time around, and how he responds to continuous escalation of innings will go a long way to solidifying his fantasy value. Though it may take time for him to solidify his control, a healthy McCullers delivers in the strikeouts column, which makes him a potential profit pick in the middle rounds of mixed league drafts. |
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| Mar 9 2017 | McCullers (elbow) retired all six batters he faced, striking out three, in two innings on 24 pitches Thursday during his Grapefruit League debut against the Cardinals, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | The right-hander showcased his power curveball on two of the punchouts, with the other coming on a new circle changeup -- a pitch that could be the key to a sustained breakout. The righty topped out at 96 mph on the stadium scoreboard, as well. As long as he comes out of this appearance without complaints of soreness or something worse, expect McCullers to work three frames in his next appearance. Health concerns persist, but the 23-year-old revived the excitement that surrounded him last year before arm troubles kicked in. Hopefully, opportunistic fantasy owners still can take advantage of doubt to land him at a reasonable price in the middle rounds of mixed drafts. His high ceiling looks like it's back in play for 2017, as long as the sleeper avoids setbacks. |
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| Mar 5 2017 | McCullers (elbow) will make his Grapefruit League debut Thursday against the Cardinals, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | McCullers is expected to throw two innings in what will be his first real game action since last August. His pitch count will be in the 40-to-45 range, so the right-hander could throw more innings if he's efficient. During McCullers' simulated game Saturday, he was able to ramp up his fastball to 93-to-95 mph. |
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| Mar 4 2017 | McCullers (elbow) threw 43 pitches in a simulated game Saturday and said he felt good, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. | McCullers has been dealing with the lingering ailment since last season, but it appears Saturday was a step in the right direction. "It went well," he said. "I'm feeling better and better each time I go out as far as my ability just to make pitches." As long as McCullers remains on schedule in his throwing program, he could see Grapefruit League action shortly. |
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| Mar 3 2017 | McCullers (elbow) will throw a simulated game Saturday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. | McCullers has been brought along at a measured pace during spring training after the right hander rehabbed an elbow injury that ended his 2016 season prematurely. He's currently behind Houston's healthier starters, but remains on the schedule laid out for him at the start of camp. |
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| Feb 28 2017 | McCullers (elbow) is expected to throw a simulated game within the next few days, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | McCullers has been limited to throwing bullpen sessions and live batting practice thus far in camp while the Astros manage his workload carefully after elbow discomfort spelled an early end to his 2016 campaign. He appears to have progressed through those sessions without incident and looks poised to move on to the next stage of the recovery process. If all goes well during the simulated game, the right-hander would likely make his Grapefruit League debut at some point late next week. |
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| Feb 25 2017 | McCullers faced hitters for the first time this spring, throwing a live batting practice session Friday, Brian McTaggart of the Astros' official site reports. | McCullers, who began and ended last season on the disabled list, missed the final month of the 2016 season due to elbow discomfort. The right-hander threw all of his pitches Friday -- the four-seam fastball, curveball, sinker and changeup -- and was pleased with the results. He'll throw two more BP sessions this week before making his Grapefruit League debut. When not on the DL last season, McCullers went 6-5 with a 3.22 ERA in 14 starts. |
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| Feb 18 2017 | McCullers (elbow) is experimenting with two new changeup grips this spring, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. The right-hander said he wants to add "a little bit of a different wrinkle." | The changeup is the second wrinkle the 23-year-old is incorporating during spring training; we learned earlier this week that he's introducing a more compact arm action. McCullers has been mostly a fastball/curveball pitcher, but wants to add a little more "pitchability" to his game following a season in which he allowed more baserunners (1.54 WHIP). Despite the uptick in walks and hits in 2016, McCullers was able to limit damage, retaining the same 3.22 ERA that he had the previous season. Adding a third pitch along with his mid-90s fastball and wipe-out curve could help reduce baserunners and prevent runs. |
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| Feb 15 2017 | McCullers (elbow) has adopted a more compact arm action designed to alleviate the stress on his arm, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | The Astros tried a similar mechanical tweak last year when McCullers was rehabbing a shoulder injury that delayed the start to the 2016 season, but trying to get comfortable with the new arm action while working back from an injury and pitching in regular-season games proved too much for the right hander. He eventually reverted back to what he was accustomed to and developed an elbow injury that ended his season in August. Now with a full offseason to prepare, McCullers feels the conditions are right to make such an adjustment ideal. Houston hopes a healthy McCullers, working as the team's No. 2 starter, will command his fastball better and knock down that 5.0 BB/9 rate. |
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| Feb 2 2017 | McCullers (elbow) announced on Twitter that he threw a bullpen session Wednesday, his first of the offseason. | The 23-year-old spent time on the DL with shoulder and elbow injuries last season, the latter of which ended his season in early August. When he was on the mound, he posted a 6-5 record with a 3.22 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 14 starts. His increased WHIP, largely due to an increase in walk rate to 5.0 BB/9, may have been related to the injuries. Getting those numbers down may be a key to McCullers' success in 2017, though the first step to his rebound season is proving he's fully healthy. |
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| Nov 9 2016 | McCullers' agent, Scott Boras, said Wednesday that he does not believe there will any lingering effects come next season of the shoulder and elbow injuries that limited McCullers in 2016, the Houston Chronicle reports. "There's nothing from the doctors that we've heard that would suggest that there's going to be any problem for '17," Boras said. | Boras went on to clarify that he expects McCullers to be 100 percent healthy for the start of spring training. McCullers hit the DL in early August with elbow discomfort but progressed to throwing off a mound by late September, so it seems likely he'll be able to have a normal offseason. A shoulder issue delayed McCullers at the start of the 2016 season, and between the two injuries, he only made 14 starts for the Astros. |
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| Sep 26 2016 | McCullers (elbow) will continue his rehab at the team's facility in Florida, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | McCullers tossed a bullpen session Thursday without any issue, but with only a week remaining in the regular season, the Astros have pulled the plug on the notion that the right-hander could make another appearance in 2016. McCullers is expected to progress to throwing live batting practice in the near future. |
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| Sep 23 2016 | Manager A.J. Hinch said McCullers (elbow) felt good Friday after throwing his first bullpen session Thursday, Jordan Ray of MLB.com reports. | This is encouraging news but time is running out for McCullers to pitch again during the regular season. At this point, it seems highly unlikely that he would make a start before the end of the regular season, but the team could always expedite McCullers' return by preparing him for a bullpen role. Regardless, McCullers' progress should help ease any long-term fears heading into the winter. |
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| Sep 22 2016 | McCullers (elbow) threw a bullpen session Thursday, Angel Verdejo Jr. of the Houston Chronicle reports. | McCullers threw approximately 30 pitches Thursday. This marked the first time that he'd thrown from a mound since Aug. 2. There hasn't been an indication as to when he'll be back, but the club has yet to rule out the possibility of a return during the 2016 campaign. |
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| Sep 19 2016 | McCullers (elbow) will throw off a mound Tuesday or Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. | McCullers hasn't pitched since sustaining a mild elbow strain Aug. 3. It's still unclear whether McCullers will be able to return during the regular season, but a return for the wild-card game or subsequent playoff series may be a possibility. We'll have to wait and see how he feels after his throwing session before we know more. |
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| Sep 9 2016 | McCullers (elbow) still hasn't progressed to throwing off a mound, the Houston Chronicle's Angel Verdejo reports. | He increased his throwing velocity and distance to 120-130 feet Friday, but the fact that he has not returned to a mound yet suggests he's probably at least a couple weeks from being able to return to the big league rotation. Dallas Keuchel is also without a timetable to return, so the likes of Joe Musgrove, David Paulino and Brad Peacock will continue to plug the holes in the rotation. |
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| Aug 26 2016 | McCullers (elbow) played light catch Friday, the Houston Chronicle reports. "Getting his arm back in shape, which is good news," manager A.J. Hinch said. "He hasn't felt any issues, he hasn't felt any pain or anything like that, so it's a step in the right direction." | The skipper added that McCullers is "still a ways away from aggressive catch, mound activity or anything like that," but Friday's work represented a positive step forward following a three-week long shutdown period. McCullers would seem to have a chance to return during the regular season but it's no lock, as the team will continue to be cautious, and he won't have much of a window to help owners if he does make it back. |
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| Aug 16 2016 | McCullers (elbow) will not throw for another week, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. | Now close to two weeks into his DL stay, McCullers remains shut down from throwing and it will be another week before he even picks up a baseball. From there, McCullers will need to gradually ramp up his throwing, ultimately facing live hitters before heading out on a rehab assignment. It seems safe to assume at this point that he won't be back until after rosters expand. |
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| Aug 3 2016 | McCullers was diagnosed with a mild elbow sprain, Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle reports. | McCullers isn't expected to throw for at least two weeks, so he'll likely be out until at least the latter end of August. The team will want to be careful with McCullers, as he'd been drastically improving in recent starts and owned a 2.57 ERA and 12.9 K/9 over his last five outings. |
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| Aug 3 2016 | McCullers was placed on the 15-day DL on Wednesday with elbow discomfort. | One of the Astros' top prospects, Joe Musgrove, will take McCullers' spot in the rotation and start against the Rangers on Sunday. This is a major blow for the Astros, as McCullers has as much talent as anyone in that rotation. The term "discomfort" doesn't provide much for owners to work with, and his official status could change in the coming days. It's safe to say he could be headed for a lengthy absence. |
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| Aug 2 2016 | McCullers (undisclosed) exited Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays in the fifth inning with an apparent injury, Barry Davis of Sportsnet reports. | McCullers was tossing a decent game at the time of his injury, having only given up two solo home runs to Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion. He was replaced by recently promoted Joe Musgrove, who took the mound for the first time in the majors. McCullers will be considered day-to-day until more information comes out from the club after the game or sometime Wednesday. |
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| Aug 2 2016 | McCullers (elbow) exited Tuesday's game in the fifth inning after experiencing discomfort in his right elbow, Angel Verdejo Jr. of the Houston Chronicle reports. | McCullers will be re-evaluated again Wednesday, and the team will likely give a timetable on his return in the next couple days. He was pitching a solid game at the time of the injury, throwing 48 of his 56 pitches for strikes, although he gave up seven hits and two earned runs. |
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| Jul 27 2016 | McCullers (6-4) struck out 10 while holding the Yankees to a single run on five hits and two walks over six sharp innings in Wednesday's 4-1 win. | That's three consecutive one-run outings and five in six starts for McCullers, who also notched his third double-digit-strikeout game in that span. He did so while snapping a streak of three consecutive four-walk games. That said, we've seen the second-year fireballer show good control in spots before, only to regress, which is half of why he still owns a gargantuan 1.53 WHIP that's in strong disagreement with his shiny 3.18 ERA. The other half is that he's been victimized be a .378 BABIP, which seems overwhelmingly likely to drop toward normality down the stretch. All in all, things are clearly trending up for the 22-year-old righty, whose next start will come Tuesday against Toronto. |
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| Jul 22 2016 | McCullers (5-4) pitched eight innings Friday, allowing one run, four hits and four walks while striking out 10 Angels in the 2-1 victory. | McCullers took the hill in the ninth in an effort to record his second MLB complete game, but was lifted after issuing two walks to open the final frame. He had some traffic on the bases early, but was helped out by a defense that turned double plays to end both the second and fifth innings. He sailed through the next three innings, retiring nine straight and striking out the side in the eighth. Through 12 starts this season, McCullers sports an eye-popping 11.5 K/9 while giving up just two home runs over 70-plus innings. |
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| Jul 17 2016 | McCullers (4-4) took the loss against the Mariners on Saturday, despite striking out eight and giving up only one earned run on four hits and four walks in 5.1 innings. | Although he once again struggled with his control-- throwing only 56 of 97 pitches for strikes and recording first-pitch strikes on only nine of 22 hitters-- McCullers also missed plenty of bats. He induced 10 swinging strikes, and recorded his third-highest whiff total in a start this season. The 22-year-old has received minimal run support over his last two decisions, both losses, with the Astros only providing him with two runs overall. However, McCullers' bloated 1.64 WHIP sums up a large part of his troubles also, and he'll try to get back on track against the Angels next Friday. |
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| Jul 10 2016 | McCullers (4-3) gave up three earned runs on seven hits and four walks over four innings in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the A's. He struck out six. | The 22-year-old had control problems once again, issuing multiple free passes for the ninth time in his 10 starts this season. McCullers also surrendered the most earned runs he'd given up over the last four trips to the mound, and the four-inning stint was his shortest of the season. He'll look to rebound in his first post-All-Star break start. |
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| Jul 5 2016 | McCullers (4-2) permitted just one run on five hits and a walk with 10 strikeouts over seven innings during Monday's win over the Mariners. | It was McCullers' sharpest outing of the season and the first time this year that he's permitted less than three walks during a start. The 22-year-old right-hander will carry a 3.57 ERA into his next scheduled start Saturday against the A's. |
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| Jul 4 2016 | McCullers (hand) has been cleared to start Monday's game against the Mariners, Angel Verdejo of the Houston Chronicle reports. | McCullers had his previous turn skipped after developing a blister on his pitching hand, but the wound seems to have healed well enough for the right-hander to feel comfortable using all of his pitches. The youngster has been very consistent over his last seven outings, tossing between five and seven innings and striking out at least six batters in each outing. On the flip side, he's also walked at least three batters in each of those starts. |
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| Jun 28 2016 | McCullers (hand) will return to the rotation Monday against the Mariners, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. | Manager A.J. Hinch did not use the words "expected" or "likely" when discussing the situation, which suggests the team has very little doubt McCullers will be able to take the hill Monday after missing one turn. McCullers was scratched from his scheduled start Tuesday due to a blister and was replaced by Scott Feldman. |
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| Jun 27 2016 | McCullers has been scratched with a blister for Tuesday's start against the Angels, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. | It doesn't appear that this blister will force a DL stint or even another missed start at this point. Scott Feldman will start Tuesday in his place. We'll watch for updates on McCullers's next appearance, but if the rest of Houston's starters pitch in turn, McCullers's next start will fall July 4 against Seattle. |
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| Jun 22 2016 | McCullers (3-2) allowed just one runs on six hits over 5.2 innings but took a no-decision in the victory over the Angels on Wednesday. He also struck out six and walked three. | He threw 61 of his 97 pitches for strikes and induced 17 swing-and-misses. It's the second straight outing that McCullers allowed two or fewer runs in 5-plus frames but took a no-decision. He has a 3.91 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 56 strikeouts in 46.0 innings. His next scheduled start will be Tuesday versus the Angels again. |
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| Jun 5 2016 | McCullers earned the win Sunday versus the Athletics, allowing just two runs with nine strikeouts and three walks across seven strong innings. | The right-hander earned his third consecutive win Sunday, setting season-highs in innings pitched and pitch count in the process. He has pitched well since a rocky season debut and has now lowered his ERA to 4.23, which is supported by an excellent 12.04 K/9 rate. McCullers is in a groove at the moment and will face a favorable matchup at the Rays Friday in his next scheduled start. |
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| May 31 2016 | McCullers (2-1) went five innings during Tuesday's win against the Diamondbacks, allowing three runs on six hits and four walks while striking out seven. | McCullers continues to struggle with his control, and he's issued at least three walks in each of his four starts this year. That being said, he remains a great source for strikeouts since he's fanned 24 in his last 16 frames, so at least he keeps missing bats on a consistent basis. He's won his last two outings, and he will try to keep it going in his next start against Oakland at home Sunday. |
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| May 26 2016 | McCullers (1-1) picked up his first win of the year with five innings of one-run ball against Baltimore on Thursday, striking out 10 while working around six walks and one hit. | The one hit was a Mark Trumbo solo homer; McCullers was able to strand the six men who reached via the free pass, but all those walks and strikeouts drove up his pitch count to 108 in just five frames. We've seen McCullers show his typically impressive bat-missing ability since his return from a shoulder injury, but his control has also been on the fritz -- he owns a 21:12 K:BB in 15.2 innings. The 22-year-old righty should put it all together eventually, but don't count on that to happen in his next start, Tuesday on the road against Arizona. |
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| May 21 2016 | McCullers (0-1) surrendered five hits, two earned runs and three walks over six innings in Friday's 2-1 loss to the Rangers. He struck out seven. | The young right-hander paid dearly for his only mistake of the night, as the two-run double he gave up to Prince Fielder ended up being the difference in the ball game. Still, the effort was a marked improvement over McCullers' first start of the season, when he was blasted for five earned runs over 4.2 innings against the Red Sox. The 22-year-old was still shaky with his control-- as evidenced by him giving up a trio of walks for the second time in two starts-- but he was also able to induce 14 swinging strikes. He'll try his luck again at home next Thursday versus a dangerous Orioles lineup. |
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| May 14 2016 | McCullers didn't factor into the decision Friday, surrendering seven hits, five earned runs and three walks over 4.2 innings in Friday's 7-6 victory over the Red Sox. He struck out four. | The 22-year-old didn't give up any homers, but was otherwise touched up consistently by one of the hottest offenses in the majors at the already-tough venue of Fenway. He threw 55 of his 89 pitches for strikes, but only induced six swings-and-misses overall. McCullers will try for a better encore performance against the Rangers next Friday. |
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| May 13 2016 | McCullers (shoulder) was activated from the disabled list Friday. | McCullers is ready for action after recovering from a shoulder injury he suffered during spring training. He will jump right into the rotation but faces a tough test in his first start of 2016, squaring off against the red-hot Red Sox in Boston. Regardless of Friday's outcome, however, McCullers posted a 3.22 ERA and struck out 129 batters over 125.2 innings in 22 starts with the Astros last season, so he figures to be part of the team's rotation moving forward. |
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| May 11 2016 | McCullers (shoulder) will rejoin the rotation Friday against the Red Sox, Angel Verdejo of the Houston Chronicle reports. | After starting the season on the disabled list due to a sore throwing shoulder, McCullers is set to make his 2016 debut on Friday. He was sharp in his final rehab outing at Triple-A Fresno and he also noted that he felt ready for game action following his bullpen session Tuesday. Friday's start will be a bit of a baptism by fire for McCullers, however, as he'll be facing a Red Sox lineup that is averaging 6.3 runs per game in May. |
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| May 10 2016 | McCullers (shoulder) said Tuesday that he feels ready to rejoin the Astros' rotation, the Houston Chronicle reports. | Manager A.J. Hinch described it a "big day" for McCullers, who focused on fastball location for most of Tuesday's bullpen session. He was already confident in his curveball and slider after fanning seven over five scoreless innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Fresno on Saturday. The skipper suggested an official announcement is coming Wednesday, but this Saturday in Boston is the presumptive date for McCullers' 2016 debut. |
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| May 9 2016 | McCullers (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | McCullers is currently traveling to Houston from El Paso, so his session, originally scheduled for Monday, will be pushed back a day. The expectation is that if all goes well Tuesday, McCullers could be back in action as soon as later this week. |
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| May 8 2016 | McCullers (shoulder) could be activated from the disabled list within the next few days and make a start during the Astros' four-game series with the Red Sox next weekend, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | McCullers looked excellent during his second minor-league rehab start at Triple-A Fresno on Saturday, tossing five shutout innings while striking out seven batters. In light of that encouraging performance, it doesn't appear the Astros plan to have McCullers make any more rehab starts. He's scheduled to play catch Sunday and throw a bullpen session Monday, and if all checks out well, an activation may be on the horizon. |
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| May 7 2016 | McCullers (shoulder) will make what could be his final rehab start Saturday for Triple-A Fresno, the Houston Chronicle's Jake Kaplan reports. | Depending on how he feels after Saturday's outing, McCullers could rejoin the Astros rotation next week, meaning his owners in weekly leagues could be faced with the tough decision of whether or not to deploy him for a matchup in Boston. The Astros could really use McCullers, as the presumed staff ace, Dallas Keuchel, has a 5.11 ERA through six starts. The next step for McCullers should be announced later this weekend. |
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| May 2 2016 | McCullers (shoulder) will make a rehab start Saturday at Triple-A Fresno, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. | He threw 62 pitches at the Astros' spring training complex Monday, which should enable him to approach 75-80 pitches in Saturday's rehab start. The team's plans for McCullers beyond Saturday are unclear at this time, but he may only need one additional turn in the minors before he's ready to be activated from the disabled list. |
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| Apr 26 2016 | McCullers (shoulder) will pitch in an extended spring training game Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. | On the heels of a successful bullpen session Friday, McCullers now heads to extended spring to face live hitters. The expectation is that he will throw approximately three innings. The team decided to hold off on McCullers' rehab assignment after he had some trouble bouncing back from a throwing session, but he could join an affiliate in short order if Wednesday's outing goes well. |
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| Apr 22 2016 | McCullers threw another bullpen session Friday and felt "really good," according to manager A.J. Hinch, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | Two days after his return to elevated ground, McCullers got back onto the bullpen mound for more work, and it sounds like everything went according to plan. The team pumped the brakes and scratched McCullers from his scheduled rehab start last weekend, but if he responds well to Friday's session, McCullers will likely head out to join a minor league affiliate in short order. |
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| Apr 20 2016 | McCullers (shoulder) came through Wednesday's bullpen session fine, and will throw another such session Friday, MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reports. | If all goes well in Friday's session, McCullers is expected to go back out on a rehab assignment. There have been some setbacks along the way, so owners will want to make sure not to look too far ahead with the hard-throwing righty. The Astros would obviously like to get him back in the rotation at some point, but he will be handled with extreme care. |
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| Apr 17 2016 | McCullers (shoulder) played catch Sunday morning, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | Eyebrows were raised when McCullers was scratched from his scheduled rehab start Saturday, and it's still not clear when he will take the mound next, but it's a good sign that he was able to throw the ball just one day later. Manager A.J. Hinch said McCullers felt good after Sunday's session, so there is reason to believe he may be able to resume his rehab assignment at some point this week. |
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| Apr 15 2016 | McCullers (shoulder) will not make his scheduled rehab start Saturday, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | Manager A.J. Hinch said that the right-hander is "fine," but the team will play it safe and hold McCullers out after he had some trouble bouncing back following Monday's outing. McCullers threw 48 pitches over three innings in his first rehab start for Double-A Corpus Christi, allowing one run on three hits (including a home run). He will not be shut down from throwing entirely, but there is no timetable for McCullers to return to live action. |
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| Apr 12 2016 | McCullers (shoulder) played catch Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. | McCullers was also able to make it through three innings in a rehab start with Double-A Corpus Christi on Monday, where he struck out four and allowed one run. The righty will need to get some more rehab starts under his belt, but he remains on track to make his season debut toward the end of April. |
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| Apr 12 2016 | McCullers (shoulder) is scheduled to make a rehab start Saturday with Double-A Corpus Christi, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. | McCullers is slated to throw about 60-to-75 pitches in this one after successfully making it through three innings in his first rehab start Monday. He'll continue to throw throughout the week and appears to be gearing up for a return to the Astros sometime in late April. |
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| Apr 7 2016 | McCullers (shoulder) will make his first rehab start at Double-A Corpus Christi on Monday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. | McCullers has been dealing with shoulder soreness since the middle of March, but his rehab seems to be progressing as planned. He is expected to throw two or three innings in his first rehab start and is still on track to return to the Astros in late April. |
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| Apr 7 2016 | McCullers (shoulder) is expected to pitch in minor league games early next week, setting him up for a return to the Astros in late April or early May, Jon Morosi of FOX Sports reports. | McCullers threw a 30-pitch simulated game Wednesday, apparently completing the session without incident. He'll still need to head out on a rehab assignment, but he could be available in the majors by mid-to-late April, potentially knocking Scott Feldman or Doug Fister from the rotation. |
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| Apr 6 2016 | McCullers (shoulder) tossed 30 pitches in a simulated game Wednesday, Brain McTaggart of MLB.com reports. | McCullers was placed on the DL on Friday, and threw the simulated game at the Astros' facility in Kissimmee, Florida on Wednesday. McCullers is expected to head out on a rehab assignment in the near future before returning to the Astros by mid-to-late April. |
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| Apr 4 2016 | McCullers (shoulder) is expected to throw a "couple of innings" Thursday at extended spring training, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. | McCullers, who was placed on the DL on Friday, is with the team in New York for Opening Day, but he'll fly to the Astros' facility Tuesday to prep for Thursday's session. Barring any sort of setback, McCullers could embark on a rehab assignment in the near future in hopes of returning to the Astros by mid-to-late April. |
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| Apr 1 2016 | McCullers (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday. | Recent reports on McCullers' recovery from the shoulder injury have been encouraging, and he will travel with the team to New York on Sunday to be part of the Opening Day festivities. Considering McCullers has already faced live hitters, it seems possible he could join an affiliate and begin a rehab assignment relatively early on in the season. |
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| Mar 31 2016 | McCullers (shoulder) threw a live batting practice session Thursday and manager AJ Hinch said that "All reports were good", Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle reports. | This is encouraging news, as it seems the young starter is making steady progress in his rehab process since injuring his shoulder on Mar. 11. He'll likely start the season on the disabled list, but Hinch will still let McCullers travel with the team to New York on Sunday so that he can be a part of the Opening Day festivities prior to throwing a bullpen session at Yankee Stadium. |
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| Mar 27 2016 | McCullers (shoulder) threw another bullpen session Saturday, Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle reports. | McCullers was shut down a little over two weeks ago with shoulder soreness and is slated to begin the season on the DL, but his activity on the mound suggests that he's at least making progress. Saturday marked the second bullpen session he's performed since the shutdown period, and he was able to throw six more pitches than he did the previous time. The Astros will see how he's feeling in a couple of days before determining if he'll throw another bullpen session or start facing hitters again. |
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| Mar 23 2016 | McCullers (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. | The team has already confirmed that McCullers will begin the season on the DL due to the shoulder injury. He remains without a set timetable for a return to action, but a timetable should start to take shape as the right-hander ramps up toward a rehab assignment. Mike Fiers is expected to fill McCullers' rotation spot to open the season. |
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| Mar 16 2016 | McCullers (shoulder) will begin the season on the disabled list, Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle reports. | While McCullers received clean results from an MRI over the weekend, he's apparently still not overly close to returning, as he remains without a timetable. The Astros will continue to handle the situation with caution, and McCullers now figures to miss at least the first week-and-a-half of the season. |
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| Mar 12 2016 | McCullers (shoulder) got some good news Saturday when his MRI came back clean, but he has no timetable to return to the mound, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. | The Astros have repeatedly said and demonstrated they are going to be cautious with the health of their young right-hander, so they probably aren't going to rush him back, even with a clean MRI. Whether or not this affects McCullers' Opening Day readiness remains to be seen, so keep an eye out for when he returns to camp. |
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| Mar 12 2016 | McCullers (shoulder) got some good news Saturday when his MRI come back clean, but has no timetable to return to the mound, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. | The Astros have repeatedly said and demonstrated they are going to be cautious with the health of their young right-hander, so they probably aren't going to rush him back, even if the MRI came back clean. Whether or not this affects McCullers' Opening Day readiness remains to be seen, so keep an eye out for when he returns to camp. |
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| Mar 11 2016 | McCullers is dealing with shoulder soreness and will see a doctor, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. | The right-hander's next throwing session has been postponed indefinitely, with the Astros determined to get a read on the issue before having him get back onto the mound. Manager A.J. Hinch said McCullers has not bounced back well following his sessions so far in camp. Mike Fiers would be in line to start for Houston if this turns out to be serious. |
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| Mar 11 2016 | McCullers will throw a bullpen session in the next day or so before being slotted into Grapefruit League action, MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reports. | The 22-year-old tossed a career-high 157.2 innings between Houston and Double-A Corpus Christi last season, so the Astros are taking a cautious approach this spring with their young hurler. |
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| Jan 29 2016 | McCullers will be placed under restrictions with the intention to keep him ready for the playoffs, Astros GM Jeff Luhnow said on MLB Network Radio. | The actual level of restriction was unspecified, but it can be estimated by looking at McCullers' previous workload. After two straight seasons spent throwing approximately 100 innings in the minors, the 22-year-old threw a career-high 157.2 innings between the majors and Double-A. That mark also included a 19-day stint at Corpus Christi in the middle of his tenure at Houston in which he only started one game, the plan being to give him some time to rest. With that 157.2 inning mark in mind, it seems reasonable to think McCullers won't be restricted too much below the 200-inning mark. This definitely hurts his upside, but probably not in a way that a solid backup can't fix for a few weeks. |
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| Oct 13 2015 | McCullers allowed two runs on two hits and two walks with seven strikeouts over 6.1 innings Monday during Game 4 of the ALDS against Kansas City. He was in line for the win, but did not factor into the decision as the Royals tagged the Astros' bullpen for seven runs to come from behind and win the game. | The 22-year-old rookie displayed great poise in his first career playoff start. He surrendered a two-run homer to Salvador Perez in the second inning, but settled down thereafter, permitting only a single, walk and a hit batter before manager A.J. Hinch put the game in the hands of the Astros' bullpen. Fresh off a remarkable rookie season and promising playoff debut, McCullers will certainly open 2016 with a spot in Houston's starting rotation. |
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| Oct 9 2015 | McCullers will start Game 4 of the ALDS if necessary, Brian Taggart of MLB.com reports. | McCullers will face off against Game 1 starter Yordano Ventura if the series extends to four games. In his first season in the majors, the 22-year-old was dynamic, posting a 3.22 ERA and 1.19 WHIP while posting a 129:43 K:BB in 125.2 innings with the Astros. |
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| Oct 5 2015 | McCullers (6-7) allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks with six strikeouts over five innings Sunday against Arizona. He did not factor into the decision in Houston's 5-3 loss. | In 22 starts with the Astros during the regular season, McCullers finished with a respectable 3.22 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 129:43 K:BB ratio over 125.2 innings. Considering he just turned 22 years old a few days ago, those are excellent numbers for such a young rookie. His 3.33 FIP suggests his success wasn't a fluke either. Coming off a strong rookie season, McCullers is a near-lock to open 2016 with a rotation spot for the Astros. |
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| Sep 28 2015 | McCullers won his sixth game behind a quality start Monday against Seattle, as he allowed two runs on four hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out seven. | Since a blowup against the Rangers to open August, McCullers has been lights out, with quality starts in six of his seven starts. He now has a 44:13 K:BB in that span. Still, Monday marked McCullers's first victory since July 29 against the Angels, a much needed reprieve after a stint in which the Astros scored more than three runs for him just twice. His ERA is down to 3.21. |
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| Sep 22 2015 | McCullers took his seventh loss despite allowing three runs on four hits over seven innings Tuesday against the Angels. He struck out nine and didn't walk a batter. | McCullers was aces after serving up home runs to Mike Trout and Albert Pujols in the first inning, as his next six went scoreless and he induced 12 swinging strikes and eight ground balls in 111 pitches. McCullers has quality starts in five of his past six starts and a brilliant 37:11 K:BB in that span. His ERA is a nifty 3.22. |
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| Sep 17 2015 | McCullers (5-6) gave up three runs on five hits and three walks over six innings Thursday in a sweep-concluding loss to Texas. | The Astros turned to their rookie hurler in an attempt to avoid a four-game embarrassment, but it was not to be. He's still delivered credible work of late, with a 3.19 ERA over his last five outings, through McCullers also hasn't won a game since way back on July 29 against the Angels. It's those Angels whom he'll draw Tuesday in his next start. |
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| Aug 31 2015 | McCullers (5-5) allowed three runs on four hits and four walks with six strikeouts over six innings during Sunday's 7-5 loss to the Twins. | The 21-year-old has been phenomenal during his rookie season, but was simply out-dueled by Ervin Santana on Sunday. He'll face the Twins again at home for his next scheduled start on Sunday. |
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| Aug 23 2015 | McCullers tossed seven innings of two-run ball against the Dodgers on Sunday, allowing eight hits and no walks while striking out eight. | He was in line for loss the when he exited, having been barely outdueled by Clayton Kershaw, but the Astros rallied against closer Kenley Jansen and ultimately walked off with the win. The team has not announced plans for McCullers, but he is facing an innings limit and an appointment to the bullpen at some point seems likely. |
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| Aug 23 2015 | McCullers will make the start for the Astros in Sunday's game against the Dodgers, Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle reports. | It remains unclear what the Astros' exact plan is for McCullers down the stretch, as the club has stated a desire to control the 21-year-old's innings count. Between Double-A Corpus Christi and the majors this season, McCullers has already covered 108.2 innings, so a bullpen role could very well loom after Sunday's outing. The lack of uncertainty regarding McCullers' situation will dim his outlook in single-season leagues and daily formats the rest of the way. |
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| Aug 22 2015 | McCullers was recalled from Double-A Corpus Christi on Saturday, Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle reports. | The Astros sent McCullers down to Double-A after a brutal start against the Rangers Aug. 3 in an attempt to limit his innings pitched, but had always planned to recall him as the playoffs neared. It's unclear if he will take over a rotation spot or slot in the bullpen to end the season. In 76.7 innings, McCullers has a 3.17 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with a 79:28 K:BB. |
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| Aug 18 2015 | McCullers will start for Double-A Corpus Christi on Tuesday, the first time he will pitch in a game since his last outing in the big leagues on Aug. 3, the Houston Chronicle's Jose de Jesus Ortiz reports. | In an effort to monitor his innings McCullers was sent to the minors earlier this month, but the plan has always been for him to rejoin the Astros again prior to the postseason. He has never thrown more than 104.2 innings as a pro until this season's 105.2, but this brief shut down certainly bought him more time in the rotation in September and the playoffs. He could be back in the Astros' rotation sooner than later. |
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| Aug 16 2015 | McCullers is a possibility to return to the Astros rotation during a late-August series with the Dodgers, Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle reports. | McCullers logged 76.2 innings with Houston from earlier in the season, racking up five wins to go along with a 3.17 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. He was tagged for six earned runs in his last Major League outing, and was immediately optioned to the minors after that. Despite the inconsistency, McCullers owns a 9.3 K/9 on the season, making him an intriguing waiver wire pickup during the last month of the season (provided his pending promotion goes through). |
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| Aug 3 2015 | McCullers (5-4) couldn't escape the first inning Monday in Texas, giving up six runs while getting just one out, and was optioned to the minors after the game, MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. | While the outing was brutal, highlighting McCullers' recent inconsistency, this demotion seems to be more a procedural move than anything else. Mike Fiers was supposed to start Tuesday, but ended up pitching five innings of relief Monday, so the Astros will call up Dan Straily to take Fiers' turn in the rotation. McCullers and Straily will likely swap roster spots again soon, but the Astros may opt to skip the rookie in the rotation once to give him some extra rest. |
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| Jul 30 2015 | McCullers (5-3) pitched seven solid innings, giving up only one run and five hits while striking out five and walking none Wednesday against the Angels. | McCullers won for the first time in four July starts and helped the Astros regain the division lead in the AL West -- the first time they have led their division this late in the season in 12 years. The rookie lowered his ERA to 2.48 to go along with a 1.11 WHIP and 78:27 K:BB ratio in 76.1 innings for the season. McCullers will draw the Rangers in his next scheduled start Monday. |
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| Jul 24 2015 | McCullers allowed two runs, six hits and three walks while striking out two in Thursday's no-decision against the Red Sox. | The rookie had his first start since the All-Star break and had his innings limited to five for the evening. He didn't factor in the decision, but he kept the Astros in the game as they eventually won in the bottom of the ninth. For the season, McCullers boasts a 2.60 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 73:27 K:BB ratio. His next scheduled start will be against the Angels on Wednesday. |
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| Jul 19 2015 | McCullers will make his first All-Star break start on Thursday, and the Astros are going to try to limit his innings over the second half. | Meanwhile, Tuesday's start remains unrevealed, but manager A.J. Hinch is choosing among Vincent Velasquez, Dan Straily and Brett Oberholtzer. Hinch has made his decision, but just hasn't revealed it. |
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| Jul 12 2015 | McCullers (4-3) allowed four runs on four hits and three walks with 10 strikeouts over six innings during Sunday's loss against the Rays. | The 21-year-old rookie grew up in Tampa watching games at Tropicana Field, but he couldn't get the win in his hometown debut despite fanning 10 batters in the game. McCullers heads into the All-Star break with a 2.52 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 71:24 K:BB over 64.1 innings. |
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| Jul 7 2015 | McCullers will have his start pushed back to Sunday against the Rays, MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reports. | The Astros are sending Vincent Velasquez to Double-A while they skip his turn in the rotation and inserting Brett Oberholtzer, which allows them to push McCullers back a couple days. Look for the Astros to continue to try to find ways to allow McCullers to still have some innings left toward the end of the season. They could skip one or two of his starts in the second half or go to a six-man rotation at times, but either way McCullers will still warrant ownership in most formats. |
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| Jul 6 2015 | McCullers allowed one run on seven hits and three walks with three strikeouts over five innings Sunday against the Red Sox. He did not factor into the decision. | The 21-year-old hurler labored Sunday afternoon, throwing 101 pitches (only 60 for strikes) over his five innings of work. He tossed a first-pitch strike to just 12 of the 22 batters he faced while fanning only three, his season-low for a game. McCullers still managed to lower his ERA, however, as it dropped to 2.16 through 10 starts for the Astros. He'll face the Rays in Tampa Bay for his next start Friday. |
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| Jun 29 2015 | McCullers won his fourth game Monday against Kansas City as he threw seven innings and allowed one run on four hits and two walks. He struck out six. | McCullers reined in his control Monday after walking 10 batters in 15.1 innings over his previous three starts. His control has been shaky throughout his professional career, but he has the stuff to beat hitters at any level. He now has a 2.19 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 53.1 innings. As long as he's finding the strike zone, McCullers should thrive. |
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| Jun 24 2015 | McCullers allowed one run on four hits and three walks Wednesday, striking out six Angels in six innings. | Coming off his worst outing as a major leaguer, McCullers bounced back in a big way against a tough opponent. With 52 strikeouts and 16 walks in 46.1 innings -- and the sparkling 2.33 ERA that goes with that -- the rookie continues to impress, but he may be a sell-high candidate in yearly leagues right now before teams around the league see him a second time and he experiences some regression. He'll face the Royals (for the first time) Tuesday. |
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| Jun 19 2015 | McCullers struggled Friday against the Mariners, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks in just 4.1 innings. He did strike out six batters but was handed his second loss of the season. | The 21-year-old struggled a bit with his command, throwing just 57 percent of his pitches for strikes, and paid the price for putting too many men on. McCullers has had an up-and-down start to his big league career, tossing three quality starts as well as four starts in which he has failed to exceed five innings. The rookie is expected to remain in the rotation but will need to start showing some consistency, beginning with Wednesday's start against the Angels. |
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| Jun 14 2015 | McCullers earned his third win of the season Sunday as he threw five innings of scoreless, hitless ball against the Mariners. The rookie struck out four and walked four on the day. | The 21-year-old struggled with his command despite the dominating performance, as he needed 90 pitches to make it through five innings and threw just 48 strikes. McCullers' ERA now sits at an even 2.00 through 36 innings and he will carry a 3-1 record into Friday's start at Seattle. |
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| Jun 9 2015 | McCullers (2-1) pitched well Monday, but took his first big league loss after allowing three runs on four hits with no walks and seven strikeouts over seven innings against the White Sox. | McCullers wasn't expected to stick this long in the Astros' starting rotation, but he's earned an extended look with another strong outing Monday after firing a complete game with 11 strikeouts during his previous start against Baltimore. The 21-year-old lines up to face Seattle for his next start Sunday. |
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| May 29 2015 | McCullers came away with a no-decision, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits. He walked two and struck out seven over 4.1 innings of work. | McCullers now sports a 2.40 ERA and has been relatively effective in his first couple of starts. Unfortunately, while the seven strikeouts in this one were impressive, his command has been shaky and he needed 89 pitches (just 52 for strikes) to record 13 outs. The Astros have not committed to their plans for McCullers' immediate future, but more seasoning at Triple-A is a possibility. |
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| May 26 2015 | McCullers will remain in the Astros' rotation for at least one more start, MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reports. | McCullers earned himself another start by giving up just two earned runs over six innings and picking up his first big league win in his last start Saturday against the Tigers. His next start will come Friday against the White Sox. |
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| May 19 2015 | McCullers will start Saturday against the Tigers. | McCullers had a solid MLB debut Monday, striking out five over 4.2 innings while allowing just one run. It impressed manager A.J. Hinch enough to give the 21-year-old another start, where he'll draw the potent Tigers lineup on the road. |
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| May 19 2015 | McCullers allowed one run on three hits and three walks while striking out five over 4.2 innings Monday in his Major League debut against Oakland. He didn't factor into the decision in the Astros' 2-1 loss. | The 21-year-old displayed a lively fastball and sharp breaking pitches, but he wasn't very efficient as he threw 93 pitches in the game and only 54 for strikes. Still, it wasn't a bad debut for a pitcher who was in Double-A a week ago. If the Astros elect to give McCullers another start, it will likely come Saturday at Detroit. |
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| May 18 2015 | McCullers was recalled from Triple-A Fresno on Monday. | McCullers will jump right into the Astros' rotation and take the ball Monday against the A's. He is one of the Astros' better prospects, but he owns only six career appearances above the High-A level, so it seems likely this is just a short-term move. |
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| May 14 2015 | McCullers was promoted from Double-A Corpus Christi to Triple-A Fresno on Thursday, Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle reports. | After a posting a so-so 5.47 ERA in 25 appearances at High-A Lancaster last season, McCullers is off to a hot start at Double-A, going 3-1 with a 0.62 ERA through his first six appearances (four starts). The right-hander will have a chance to show his stuff at the next level, and if he finds success he could push for a major league call-up by late-summer. |
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| Jul 19 2013 | McCullers, 19, has a 3.01 ERA and 95:38 K:BB ratio through 83.2 innings for Low-A Quad Cities. | A ground ball pitcher, McCullers has notched an impressive 2.04 GO:AO ratio in 2013. |
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| Jun 2 2013 | McCullers threw five scoreless innings while allowing only two hits and a walk and striking out six for Low-A Quad Cities on Sunday. | Over his last 10 appearances (six starts), McCullers has a 1.42 ERA in 38 innings. He won his first start on Sunday and we'll need to see more of the same if he's going to stick in a rotation down the road. |
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| Apr 23 2013 | McCullers pitched well out of the bullpen in a piggyback stint for Low-A Quad Cities. Despite being charged with a blow save, McCullers allowed just a run on three hits and three walks in four innings while striking out five. | Shrewd bonus money management in the 2012 draft by the Astros brought McCullers to Houston, but what kind of impact he'll have remains to be seen. Some fear his mechanics will lead him down a path to the bullpen, but he'll have the stuff to miss bats in any role. |
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